The River Reflections annual water conference was held in Mildura on June 1 and 2.
“These critical final stages of the basin plan are a once-in-a-generation chance to improve the rules around river management, to allow water to move through the system more freely — in ways that would benefit people along the river as well as the river environment we rely on,” Mr Reynolds said.
“Prior to the basin plan, for 100 years, the Murray River was essentially managed as a pipeline to support towns and agriculture.
“Of course, we all know a river is more than a pipeline — it lives and breathes and connects with its floodplain and the people who have relied on life-giving water for tens of thousands of years.
“That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to push forward with the projects that will bring this chance to life as part of the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism.”
Basin state governments came up with a suite of 36 projects to achieve environmental outcomes with less water and agreed to implement them by 2024.
“In exchange, 605 gigalitres of water would stay in the consumptive pool rather than being recovered as water for the environment,” Mr Reynolds said.
“While I appreciate and understand how hard these projects are to implement, from a river operator’s perspective, they’re gold.
“They will provide increased flexibility for river operators to meet the needs of all users in an increasingly complex system.
“The good news is 29 projects are well on their way or completed. However, there is significant work to be done to get the final seven projects over the line.
“If we’re going to give our rivers the best chance, these final elements of the basin plan have to be completed.”
